WT Student Selected for USDA Summer Internship in D.C.

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — A West Texas A&M University student recently took part in a 10-week federal internship in Washington, D.C., for students from farmworker backgrounds.

Jesus “Chuy” Ramirez-Muñoz, a sophomore agricultural business and economics major from San Angelo, began his internship with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on May 27; the program ended Aug. 3.

Interns worked 40 hours a week in various USDA agencies in D.C. Ramirez-Muñoz worked in the office of the chief financial officer in the USDA’s National Finance Center.

The office is a shared service center that provides human resources management, financial services, and payroll services to USDA and other government agencies such as the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. NFC’s mission is to develop, implement, and administer cost-effective systems for the USDA and various government agencies.

He and 13 others were selected from a pool of 71 applicants for the 2024 USDA High School Equivalency Program and College Assistance Migrant Program internship program.

Ramirez-Muñoz was housed at George Washington University and won a stipend to cover expenses.

“As an agriculture major, the opportunity to apply for an internship with the USDA was one I couldn’t pass up,” Ramirez-Muñoz said. “Being in CAMP provided me with the opportunity to apply to this internship, and for that, I will always be grateful. As a first-generation student, I hope to be an example for my younger sister and show her that the sky is the limit when it comes to pursuing her dreams.”

The internship was “a huge accomplishment and opportunity for Chuy,” said Fabiola Hernandez, WT’s CAMP director.

“He was in my office almost every day working on his application and showed so much dedication and excitement to get to apply for this,” Hernandez said. “Chuy is very self-disciplined and continues to seek opportunities to help him grow and network. I know this internship will be a wonderful experience for him to get to do just that.”

Ramirez-Muñoz is a graduate of WT’s CAMP program, which facilitates the transition from high school to college and offers first-year support services to develop the skills necessary to persist and graduate from college.

The program provides academic advising and support; tutoring and supplemental instruction; financial aid counseling; cultural enrichment; social adjustment; leadership and professional development activities; and services, including scholarships up to $2,700, book assistance and a monthly stipend. 

“Being selected for this internship is a privilege and a responsibility,” Ramirez-Muñoz said. “I am proud to represent WT and be the only student from Texas in my cohort, and I am proud to represent my family and know that the son of a farm worker and the grandson and great-grandson of rural farmers in Mexico has this opportunity at 19 years old.

Serving CAMP students is one way in which WT is regionally responsive, a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised nearly $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WT—